Loving and Working

About brotherly love: You don’t need me to write you because you yourselves are taught by God(A) to love one another.(B) 10 In fact, you are doing this toward all the brothers and sisters in the entire region of Macedonia.(C) But we encourage you, brothers and sisters, to do this even more, 11 to seek to lead a quiet life,(D) to mind your own business,[a] and to work(E) with your own hands, as we commanded you, 12 so that you may behave properly(F) in the presence of outsiders and not be dependent on anyone.[b](G)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 4:11 Lit to practice one’s own things
  2. 4:12 Or not need anything, or not be in need

Affirmation of Continuing Love

But concerning brotherly love, I do not have need to write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another, 10 for indeed you are practicing it toward all the brothers in all of Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to progress even more, 11 and to aspire to live a quiet life, and to attend to your own business,[a] and to work with your hands,[b] just as we commanded you, 12 so that you may live decently toward those outside, and may have need of nothing.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 1 Thessalonians 4:11 Literally “your own things”
  2. 1 Thessalonians 4:11 Some manuscripts have “your own hands”